The Haru Basho kicks off this weekend - all eyes will be on ozeki Baruto to see if he can follow up his January success with another yusho which would clinch yokozuna promotion. Sumo does need another yokozuna.

Haru Day 1: Top rikishi start on a high level
Sunday, 11 March 2012 Seven of the top eight rikishi won on day 1 with Tochinowaka bringing the only surprise on the table as he beat ozeki Kisenosato with a nice oshitaoshi. The promotion numbers are getting back to normal after the unusual first bashos following the mass sekitori intai. Ikioi is the sole shin-makuuchi rikishi this time and big things are expected of the 25 years old rikishi in his hometwown basho, but he lost his first makuuchi bout with a kotenage to Takarafuji. Goeido is the second makuuchi rikishi from Osaka and he delivered with a win over Shohozan.

Juryo has two shin-sekitori with Sensho and 19 years old Chiyootori, with both looking strong going up in the last few basho. Both lost their first juryo bout, but I think they are there to stay. The second Kokonoe-beya rikishi in juryo is Chiyotairyu who won the yusho last basho with a 13-2 and only closely missed out on makuuchi promotion, but he lost as well, to 20 years old Kotoyuki.

Haru Day 2: Kisenosato suffers 2nd straight defeat
Monday, 12 March 2012 The results of the top 16 rikishi were almost a copy of day 1, down to a Kasugano-beya rikishi beating ozeki Kisenoato. This time it was Tochiozan who was able to do his own sumo and march almost unhindered through the weak defense of the newest ozeki.

Takayasu made use of his whole body in the win over Homasho, winning with the unusual ushiromotare kimarite. Fujiazuma and Takarafuji are the only other undefeated makuuchi rikishi at 25 years or younger as veterans like Takekaze and Miyabiyama still guard the division well.

Kotoyuki is the only undefeated juryo rikishi already in the top four ranks and looks like makuuchi material actually. Fellow lead juryo Chiyotairyu is back to 1-1 after an easy win over Asahisho, while several former makuuchi like Kaisei lost today.

Yes..I agree! Wonder if there is a hidden injury somewhere...he did win today.
Hakuho 3-0! However, we both know that he doesn't usually have trouble in the early matches...it's later on where he loses his focus...time will tell.

Haru Day 3: First loss to Kotooshu and Kotoshogiku
Tuesday, 13 March 2012 On day 3 the eight top rikishi fared worse with "only" a 6-2 score as Kisenosato got his first win, but this time it was ozeki Kotooshu losing to Tochiozan. Sekiwake Aminishiki has a strong basho so far, beating ozeki Kotoshogiku today for the 3-0 start. Five sanyaku rikishi are still undefeated, plus Takayasu, Kitataiki and Fujiazuma from the Maegashira ranks.

Juryo had a lot of leaders losing today, leaving only Tamaasuka, Kimurayama and Kyokushuho without a loss. Kyokushuho already has equalled the win total from last basho, taking heavy Tokushinho heads on and showing good strength. Young Chiyootori got his first sekitori win, beating Hokutokuni.

Juryo is dominating the cross-division bouts with makushita this basho as Hakiai is the third losing makushita rikishi in three days. Generally the rikishi with an opening loss were in action today, giving only two makushita leaders for one day. Tokushoryu is one of them and his door to juryo is largely unhindered by the rikishi ahead of him - except if they continue to give the juryo rikishi enough wins to keep all in the division of course, then he must count on a Kyokutenho intai. The new tsukedashi entrant Yamaguchi quickly gave us a strong second impression, displaying good oshi skills againt talented Tatsu.

Haru Day 4 Baruto suffers first setback
Wednesday, 14 March 2012 In the only sekitori bout between undefeated rikishi Kakuryu had a great bout with Baruto and managed to deep inside to topple the tsunatori ozeki with a yoritaoshi, leaving Harumafuji as the sole ozeki left at 4-0.

Aminishiki is another sanyaku rikishi getting the first loss as he fell to komusubi Tochiozan who is doing very well himself at 3-1 with the only loss coming from Hakuho. Fujiazuma and Kitataiki also had their first losses, leaving young Takayasu as the only undefeated maegashira.

Kimurayama and Tamaasuka are the somewhat surprising remaining juryo leaders as Kyokushuho got turned and pushed out by pursuer Kimikaze. Chiyotairyu and Tosayutaka also improved to 3-1 while Chiyootori won the bout between the two shin-sekitori against Sensho, leaving both rikishi at 2-2.

Haru Day 5: Hakuho and Kakuryu still strong
Thursday, 15 March 2012 There were some surprises today as the two ozeki Harumafuji and Kisenosato each faced a winless M2 opponent but both lost, giving Yoshikaze and Tokitenku their first win of the basho. Hakuho and Kakuryu are cruising at 5-0 with just 22 years old Takayasu (second youngest in makuuchi behind Chiyonokuni) staying with them after a win over Shohozan. Kasugano-beya has three of the six youngest makuuchi rikishi and new heyamate Aoiyama isn't one of them, giving this heya a very bright future in a dark present as all four rikishi lost today.

Tamaasuka is the sole juryo leader at 5-0 after barely stopping a big slide last basho with a senshuraku win to avoid his third successive make-koshi. Chiyotairyu still is one win behind and seems like the favorite to win a second consecutive yusho to me as the three other pursuers Takamisakari, Kimurayama and Arawashi weren't really heating it up the last few basho.

This time it was Hitenryu who collected the by now customary juryo visit loss with Homarefuji due tomorrow who began to turn the tide today, getting his first win against Terashita. Kitazono also got his first win of the basho, bringing fellow lead makushita Wakanoshima to the brink of make-koshi. The high makushita ranks are in no good state as Hakiai also is 1-2 after a loss to Azumaryu, leaving Sakumayama's promotion hopes well alive even after his second career loss as he had an active start today but was cleanly losing the oshi matchup with surprisingly strong Tochihiryu. Makushita tsukedashi Yamaguchi got his second win against Mongolian Sakigake. Most 2-0 rikishi fought today, giving is a lot of 3-0 leaders with Kairyu and Sasanoyama being the two youngest among them. 22 years old Hishofuji seems to regroup from his premature juryo debut which went 4-11 followed by 3-4 and 3-5 in makushita as he now has four consecutive wins starting with the day 15 extra bout last basho.

Haru Day 6: Baruto keeps alive his promotion hopes
Friday, 16 March 2012 No big leaderboard changes today as the yokozuna, all five ozeki and the perennial candidate Kakuryu all got wins today. Takayasu suffered his first loss, leaving a leader duo of Hakuho and Kakuryu who incidentally are featured in the final two bouts tomorrow. Only one more maegashira is left at 5-1 and it is a bit of a surprise with Shotenro who is copying his 5-1 start from the last time he was M16e in Kyushu 2010. Seems like he is recovered from the injury which caused him to miss Kyushu altogether and get a below par 8-7 in high juryo (he faced all rikishi from J1 to J6) last basho.

Juryo leader Tamaasuka didn't have much problems against winless Tsurugidake to stay lossless, while only Chiyotairyu and Kimurayama managed to stay one win behind. Kokonoe-oyakata won't be too happy though with the henka his star deshi pulled against short Nionoumi. The other lead juryo Kotoyuki was praised too early apparently as he now is 2-4 after the 2-0 start.